Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-12
GENERAL SHERIDAN oUTwITTED.
Why His Portrait Did Not Go West to
Grow Up with the Country.

very amusing story about General
Sheridan has just been told me that is
worth reproducing. 1t seems that some
artist about three or four years ago painted
portrait of General Sheridan that proved
a dismal failure. but nevertheless was
hung in the Generals private office and
there centiued to hang until il became SO
familiar as to cease to cause comment. FL
nally, after the portrait had been hanging
there for two or three years, a request cam
from a q. a. r, Post in Ohio for picture
of the hero of Winchester with which to
adorn the walls of their rooms. The Gen.
eral was meditating as to how he could fill
this request, when his eye lit upon the
caricature of himself that hung upon the
wall.
The very thing y sprang into his mind,
and, as it IS well known, with him to think
is to act, he straightway tapped his bell
and babe his orderly to take down the pic
ture and box it ready for shipment. That
night at dinner he informed Mrs. Sheridan
of the request from the Ohio Post and the
manner in which he intended complying
with it.
"Oh. Philip" said Mrs. Sheridan, not
that horrible thing that has been hanging
on your office wall for the past year or so 2''
The very same responded the Gen
eral.
But Philip, if you send this picture out
it will be placed prominently on the wall
and labeled as present from you, and that
awfnl daub viii go down to posterity as a
likeness of yourself and some future day
will turn up. to the unspeakable horror OF
your children and friends, as a perfect like
ness of how you looked when in your
prime
Then followed a stormy scene Mrs Sher-
idan arguing that the picture should not be
sent, and the General taking the side that
he must, in some way, comply with the re-
quest, and, as he had nothing else to send,
this picture should go. The argument
waxed hotter and hotter, until finally Cen
eral Sheridan got up and marched TO the
door, and, having reached that stragetie
point, turned and said:
" Mrs. Sheridan, that picture shall go.
Now let neither of US ever mention its ex-
istence again"
Having said this he left the room before
Mrs. Sheridan had time to say word in
reply.
But he little knew his wife's pluck for
cary the next morning, before any one was
up, she went down to his Office and sur
prised the orderly in the very act of boxing
the picture.
" Is there any paint or varnish here that
will stick and not rub OFF, she sweetly
asked.
les, madame" answered the unsus-
pecting soldier.
Bring it to me, please said Mrs.
Sheridan
The orderly fetched some black paint
from the outer office and gave il to Mrs.
Sheridan. The she, deliberately turning
the unlucky painting over upon its back
brushed every seinblance OF a picture
from off the canvas, only leaving dim
vista of black paint.
"Oh, do stay here until tine General
comes was all the wretched orderly could
gasp as he saw this surprising proceeding
But he had no need of this request, foI
hardly were the words out Of his mouth
before Sheridan light step was heard in
the outer Office, and in an instant his stou;
| figure darkened the door. His quick eye in
a second took in the state OF affairs, and
turning red in the face. he said
Mrs. Sheridan, what does this pro-
Stop, Philip said she last night you
| made the request that neither of Us should
ever mention this again, pointing 10 what
remained of the picture DO not you be
the first to break this request and with.
out another word she swept oct of the of
fee, leaving Little Phil absolutely rooted
to the floor,
1t is, perhaps, needless to add that thai
picture has been dead letter in the Sheri-
dan household from that day to this, an(
bids fair to remain so.-Pittsbtrg Tines.